Expanded metal



EXPANDED METAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filled June 1, 192s Jan. 25, 1927. 1,615,578

H. M. GERSMAN l.

EXPANDED METAL Filed June 1, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet?,

wuwntoz Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES HARVEY M. GERSMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOS.

EXPANDED METAL.

Application filed June 1, 1923. Serial No. 642,872.

This invention relates to improvements in expandedmetal and involves features which are applicable generically to various forms of structural members and, in Connection with other features, are specifically applicable to metal sheets, i. e., lathing, it being understood that the invention is claimed in both aspects.

Herringbone is the name applied to a formed of expanded metal lathing which is characterized by parallel webs and by spaced parallel strands extending between and connecting the adjacent webs. In so far as expanded metal of the present invention conforms to these broadly stated characteristics of herringbone metal it may be conveniently designated as of the herringbone type; but as compared with herringbone metal as heretofore known the metal of the present invention possesses radical and important features of difference in which the invention consists.

The distinguishing features involve, broadly stated, the mutual relation of the webs and the strands and the struc-ture of the parts or portions by which the webs and strands are connected. As regards the mutual relation of the webs and the strands the expansion is developed whereby the strands lie flat in a common plane and the bends or breaks in the strands are located at the same, i. e., corresponding, sides of adjacent webs. Where the metal is produced in the form of sheets, i. e., lathing, the webs are flat and coplanar and their common plane is preferably offset from and parallel to the common plane of the strands, it being understood that sheets having this preferred characteristic may be either singlesided, i. e., with all the strands in a common plane or double-sided, i. e., with the strands of alternate rows in parallel planes. As regards the structure of the portions by which the webs and strands are connected the metal is characterized by delinite offsets in planes normal to the planes of the strands, and the breaks, socalled, i. e., lines of bending transverse to the strands, occur in the offsets. In addi-tion there is a second break in the strand itself extending diagonally between its edges and providing a re-enforcing rib or shoulder which is effective in a direction at an angle to the direction of the webs while the offsets provide re-enforcing ribs which are eifective in the directions of the webs.

A general advantage of substantial importance is a marked increase of stiffness and also intrinsic strength in both directions, i. e., width and length, without increase of weight. Lathing embodying the features of the invention has the following substantial advantages as compared with herringbone metal as heretofore known: he sheets by reason of their increased stiiness are easier to handle when fitting to supporting members and hanging or wiring in place; the full value of the surfaces of the webs is utilized in opposing resistance to plaster, thus avoiding cutting through and loss by seepage; greater resistance is opposed to the pressure of the trowel, thus avoiding the use of an excess amount of plaster for lining up; the supporting members may be placed on wider centers, the advantage of ribbed lathing being thereby secured; due to the definite spacing of the expanded portions by the webs good keying effects can be obtained with the use of substantially less plaster; and a greater proportion of solid metal to voids is obtained. The single sided sheet having the preferred characteristic above mentioned has the additional advan tage of being completely self furring.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in the form of sheet lath together withv blanks from which the metal may be produced. It will, however, be understood that the form of the blank and the method of expansion may be varied and that in any case the invention herein claimed is not to be regarded as limited to details of any particular blank or method of expan sion.

In said drawings:

Figure l is an elevation of the outer or obverse face of a fragmentary portion of either a single or double-sided sheet.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is al longitudinal sectional lview on the line '3-3 of Figure Q.

Figure 4 is an elevation showing an initial stage in the formation of the blank forl a single-sided sheet.

Figure 5 shows the blank ready for expansion.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a cross section of the blank shown in Figure 5.

hij

Figure 8 is an elevation of the outer or obverse face of a fragmentary portion of the sheet expanded from the blank of Figure 5, and is drawn to a scale conforming to the scale of Figures t to 7.

Figure 9 shows the blank for a. doublesided sheet.

Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 ot Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a cross section of the blank shown in Figure 9.

Figure 1Q is a perspective view of the form ot my invention shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3' and 12:'

These tigures illustrate a. fragment ot' an expanded metal sheet having parallel im peril'orate port-ions or webs 12 and expanded portions between the imperforate portions, the expanded portions being characterizedy by spaced parallel strands 13 which prelerably extend diagonally between the adjacent webs. The strands 18 of each expanded portion lie flat in a common plane and', according to the invention, the connections by which they are joined to the adjacent webs 12 are disposed at the same, that is to say corresponding, sides of said webs which, as parts ot lathing, also lie flat in a common plane. The connections between the strands and the webs include portions 111 which are oll'set. trom the webs in planes normal to the common plane of the strands. The common plane of the strands is preferably oi'l'lset from and parallel to the common plane oli the webs, the offsets 111 determining the elevation of t-he strands relatively to the webs. The oltsets 14 are arranged at the sides of the webs and alongl cach side provide, in functional effect, a rib parallel to the web and which reinforces the sheet in the longitudinal direction, considering the webs as extending lengthwise ot' the sheet. The strands have at their ends angular portions 15 which extend from the offsets 14 and may be regarded as angular extensions oit the offsets, the portions 15 being delimited by breaks, i. e., lines of bending, 16 and 17 which extend at angles to one another from the corners of the offsets remote from the webs. The breaks 16 lie in the plane of the olfsets and extend to the web, forming the common bases of polygons which are delimited by the oilsets and their angular extensions 15, such polygons being triangular in the preferred construction disclosed. The breaks 17 lie in the planes of the strands and provide a series ot ribs which reinforce the expanded portions of the sheet in generally transverse directions, that is to say directions at an angle to the lengthwise direction of the webs.

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 12 show two adjacent webs 12 and an expanded portion between them and it will be understood that the fragment shown may be regarded as either oi a single sided sheet or a double sided sheet. In a single sided sheet all ot the expanded portions are arranged at the same, i. e., corresponding, sides ot the webs, such a sheet being completely sell1 tui-ring. a double sided sheet the expanded portions are arranged alternately at opposite sides of the webs. The strands preferably extend diagonally and may extend all in the same direction or, as preferred, in the alternate expanded portions they may extend in opposite directions.

Metal conforming t-o the invention may he produced in ditlerent wa Ts and 'from blanks havingl dillerent characteristics but in all cases the blanks must be preformed where by the breaks at both ends of the strand will occur at the saine sides ot the adjacent webs in relation to oilsets lying in planes substantially normal to the webs. The specilic structure disclosed may, as embodied in single sided sheets, be produced from the blank shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 and as embodied in double sided sheets.` be produced from the blank shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11. lt will be understood lmwever that the illustration ot the blanks and the description to follow of the method of expansion is not to be taken as imposing any limitation to a particular form ot blank or to a particular method. the present invention consist-ing wholly in the structure.

Referring to Figures el, 5, (i and 7:

lhe blank is produced trom a section o t flat metal formed with rows ot slits 155 (Figure 1), the slits of each row delimit f the arca in which expansion is effected a` l the imperforate spaces 19 between the roes of slits being available for the webs.

ik. shown the slits are arranged diagonally, extending in opposite directions in the al nate rows. The flat section provided with the slits, as described, is then longitudinally corrugated to provide the completed blank shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. The longitudinal corrugations are alternately inverse and consist ot corrugations 20 presenting? channels to the obverse lae Y, ot the blank and corrugations 21 presenting channels to the reverse tace of the blank. rllhe adjoininggg inverse corrugations have common sides which are struck up along the opposite sides` of the slitted portions whereby the slits 18 extend throughout the bases and sides of the corrugations 21. rlhe completed blank then expanded or stretched in a direction of its mean plane. With the specific form ot blank disclosed the alternate portions 19 are rotated in the same direction in their common plane with reference to the remaining portions 19 which are held against rotation. In case all of the slits oic the blank should extendr in the same direction Elli lll)

f as where it is desired to have all of the strands extend in the same direction) the blank is held at one side only and all of the remaining portions 19 are rotated in the same direction but in relative succession, a step-by-step rotative effect being thus obtained. The stretching of the blank in the above manner will result in expanded metal having the characteristics described, a larger fragment drawn to the scale of Figures 1 to 7 being shown in Figure 8. In connection with the expansion of the blank disclosed the portions of metal which provide the sides of the corrugations 21 are utilized for the offsets 14 and extensions 15. rIhis will be apparent by reference to Figure 6 from which it will be observed that the sides of the corrugations are made of uniform conterminous portions, each of rhomboidal outline, whereof the pairs of adjacent sides which form the acute angles are the sides: of the triangles d-en limited bythe offsets 14; and the extensions 15, the sides which adjoin the bases of the corrugations 21 coincide with the breaks 17, and lines taken as common intersectors of the obtuse angles coincide with the breaks 16 developed during the expansion.

Referring` to Figures 9, 1() and 11:

In this case the blank is formed with longitudinal corrugations 21 and 21b corresponding functionally to the longitudinal corrugations 21 of the preceding` example but formed alternately inversely and at the opposite sides of the co-planar imperforate portions 19 by which the sides of the adn jacent inverse corrugations are connected, the slits 18, as before, being extended through the sides of the corrugations to the imperforate portions. The method of expansion is precisely the same as in the preceding example but the form of the blank results in double sided expanded sheets, that is to say sheets wherein the strands 13 of alternate expanded portions lie at opposite sides of the webs 12.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

1. ExpandedI metal characterized by imperforate parallel webs and expanded portions between t-he adjacent: webs, each expanded portion consisting` of spaced parallel strands lying fiat in a common plane and connected at their ends to the adjacent webs by portions odset from said webs along their edges in planes normal to the common plane of the strands, the offsets projecting from corresponding sides of the webs.

2, Expanded metal characterized by imperforate parallel webs and expanded portions between the adjacent webs, each expanded portion consisting of spaced parallel strands lying flat in a common plane and connected at their ends to the adjacent webs by portions projecting from the edges of said by portions offset from said webs along t their 'edges in planes normal to the common plane of the strands, the offsets projecting from corresponding sides of the webs and the plane of the strands being offset relatively to the webs.

4l. Expanded metal lath characterized by imperforate parallel webs lying flat in a common plane and expanded portions between the adjacent webs, each expanded portion consisting of spaced parallel strands lying flat in a common plane and connected at their ends to the adjacent webs by portions offset from said webs along their edges in planes normal to said common planes of the webs and the strands, the offsets projecting from corresponding sides of the webs.

5. Expanded metal lath characterized by imperforate parallel webs lying flat in a common plane and expanded portions between the adjacent webs, each expanded portion consisting of spaced parallel strands lying flat in a common plane and connected at their ends to the adjacent webs by portions projecting from the edges of said webs and in which the lines of bending incident to the provision of the strands occur at corresponding sides of the webs.

6. Expanded metal lath characterized by imperforate parallel webs lying flat in a common plane and expanded portions between the adjacent webs, each expanded portion consisting of spaced parallel strands lying` flat in a common plane and connected at their ends to the adjacent webs by portions offset from said webs in planes normal to said common planes of the webs and the strands, the offsets projecting from correspending sides of the webs and the plane of the strands being offset from and parallel to the plane of the webs, the elevation of the plane of the strands being determined by the offsets by which the strands are connected to the webs.

7. Expanded metal characterized by imperforate parallel webs and expanded portions between the adjacent webs, each expanded portion consisting of spaced parallel strands lying fiat in a common plane and connected at their ends to the adjacent webs by portions offset from said webs along their edges in planes normal to the common plane of the strands, the offsets projecting from corresponding sides of the webs and having angular extensions by which they llt) - are joined to tliesti'ands whereby a line of bending occurs in the pluneof Veach oii'set and a second line of bending @1t 1n angle to the liijst occurs in the Aplane ofthe adjacent strand.

.8. .Expanded metal characterized .by inipeil'oi'at-e paiallel webs and expanded poi'- tions between the adjacent webs, each `expanded portion consistingl of lspaced pantallel siti-ands lying vflat in ,a connnon plane and connected attheii ends to the adjacent webs by portions oiiiset from said Webs along their edges in planes normal to the connnon plane o't the strands, the offsets projecting iioin Corresponding sides of the Webs and having angular extensions by Whiclitliey are joined to tlie Strands Whereby L line of bending occurs in the plane of each offset and a second line of bending at nnengle to the il'st ooouis in the plane olf the adjacent strands, lthe plane oi' the sti-ands being oiiset relatively to tbe webs.

Imtestiniony whereof l :ifiix my signature.

HARVEY M. GEHEEL/XN. 

